Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-26
INTar PALACE OF POVERTY

al A majority of the members OF q
General executive board of the Knigh
of Labor are now in the city. ana it
!, expected that within few DAYS the II
naming members will arrive, writes
I Philadelphia correspondent OF me Ne
3 FORK Times. General Master Wort
man Powderly came here early in tn
week. as did T. B. Mcguire, of distric
/, assembly No. 40. New York. Powder.
doesn't look well. His face is pal
and thin and wears very tired an
careworn expression. ordinarily IN
complexion is bright and fresh bu
when your correspondent saw him last
evening at the Bingham house the
change for the worse in his appearance
was .o,jte noticeable. His face looks
almost haggard, and his blue eyes ap-
pear weary and do not fash behind his
glasses rs they used to do. The worn
which he is obliged to do is breaking
up his health.
To direct the workings OF such
BODY of ignorant and discordant ele'
ments as the Knights of Labor is u her
! culean task, and for over year, since
| the great southwest strike, fowderly
! has constantly overtaxed his strength.
a large proportion of the order blind
" insist on his answering their petty
inquiries and complaints in person. ana
80 A 81 S.. him n xUnFE
sixteen and eighteen hours day
Consequently, with the great strain
thus occasoned. he loses sleep and is
burdened with care. His associates
on the general executive board do
nothing in comparison with him.
The numerous expressions OF dis
satisfaction at the purchase of the
North Broad street palace that have
been heard on every hand have evil
IDENTIFY caused Mr. Powderly a great
deal OF annoyance. He took occasion
Yesterday to issue a public statement
concerning it in the Official organ OF
the order. known az The Journal Of
United Labor, AMI conducted by
Charles II. Litchman, the general sec
rotary. In the statement he explains
and defends the action of the general
board in purchasing the palace. he
says
"The general executive board. in
purchasing new headquarters, did not
act hastily. but made careful inquiry rs
to where property would be likely to
sell the best in case it becomes neces-
sary to sell again. The property Of
Mrs. Baird, on Broad street. Philadel-
phia, was offered for sale. We investi-
gated carefully and found that it was
a iirst-class property, and was worth
$50, 600. The house. barn, outbuld-
iugs. and lot cost Sll3, 600 in cash. By
discreet management it was obtained
for 945, 0o0-S 900 less than the sum
which the general assembly voted for
the purchase of suitable place. There
is plenty of room, good light, and ac-
commodations. 1t is within eight
squares of the public buildings and the
Pennsylvania railroad at Broad street.
When it was purchased several costly
articles of furniture and household fix
ings, which could not be used by the
owner elsewhere, were thrown in with
the building, and are now the property
Of the order Since we have removed
the headquarters to that building we
have been offered $4,000 more than
we gave for it by one party and SO :
900 by another"
Nobody disputes the bargain secured
in the purchase by the Knights of La
Dor, but it is doubtful If Mr.. Powderly 3
statement will satisfactorily explain
away TO critical aud sober-minded NOM
bers Of the order the imputation OF ex-
travagance and righteousness in having
such an establishment rs the North
Broad street palace for headquarters
of the sous of toll In the publication
OF this statement by Mr.. Powdurly eX.
clusively in the knights Official organ
there is Significance that is not known
to the general public. 1t might be ask
ed why the daily papers of this or 9TH
OF cities did not obtain from Mr.. Pow
derry an interview upon this very SUBJ
iect The answer is readily given that
he absolutely refuses to speak on any
question for publication in 1.-THE cap =
talistic press. Ever since the Rich
mond session of the general assembly
last October at which the bitter con-
troyersy arose between him aud the
correspondents of the leading public
/ journals represented in his newspaper
class" MIR. Powdcyly has had what
may be called a most aggravated case
| of newspaper distrust. Before that
time he could be interviewed freely
enough. but now he refuses point BLANK
to say anything to representatives OF
the press, declaring, when asked for in
formation on any point, Il don't
know or II haven't 4 word to say, -
Mr.. Powderly usually goes up to the
North Broad street palace between 6
and 10 O'Clock in tho morning. and
tolls there steadily until evening. All
o clock he returns to the Bingham
honse, takes dinner. and then GOES to
the thcater or takes hr SIX walk about
/ the city. When out walking he care
fully muflles up his neck and throat.
and IN his exercise he travels straight
ahead. us though he had so mnel